Suspect in Gateway shooting plot pleads guilty

Amanda Bowden stands with her public defender as she is arraigned in Milford Superior Court. She is accused of threatening to commit a suicide bombing and mass shooting at Gateway Community College in New Haven. Photo by Rich Scinto

BRIDGEPORT -- A 20-year-old mother of two who threatened to cause mass casualties at Gateway Community College in New Haven in February pleaded guilty to a charge of false information and hoaxes in U.S. District Court Thursday as part of a plea agreement.

Amanda Bowden of East Haven was charged in February after she sent text messages to a man she knew detailing her plot of a mass shooting and suicide bombing at the downtown New Haven college. She also told parts of her plan to an undercover FBI agent.

Bowden's home on Ozone Road, which neighbors say she shares with her children and her mother, was raided Feb. 19 after an investigation by the Connecticut Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI and the East Haven Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint by federal authorities that led to her arrest, Bowden claimed she didn't actually plan the shooting or bombing. Though Bowden claimed, when speaking to different individuals, to possess firearms and to constructing at least two napalm-based bombs at her home, no such items were found.

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The criminal complaint details the messages Bowden allegedly sent including "I was pissed when the sandy hook happened lol" and another saying "Cuz I wanted to be the next big one."

Among other texts, Bowden allegedly wrote that just thinking about it "makes me happy."

The false information and hoaxes charge was the only federal charge leveled against Bowden after the incident. Though the felony offense has a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and possible other fines and restitution, it is unlikely Bowden will face that sentence.

Instead, sentencing guidelines suggest she face six to 12 months in prison and a fine ranging from $2,000 to $20,000. She would be subject to a supervised release term of two to three years. Both parties agreed to the guidelines. She faces a lesser sentence because she accepted responsibility for the offense, according to the plea agreement.

Bowden's public defender did not return a call seeking comment.

Bowden also faces a felony charge of harassment and misdemeanor threatening at Superior Court in Milford after she was arrested in West Haven for incidents that allegedly took place in December. She faces three misdemeanor charges on two counts of criminal trespassing and harassment out of New Haven court after she was arrested by East Haven police in December. She was also charge with risk of injury after she allegedly left a loaded BB gun on her bed in plain view while one of her children was in the area.

"In text messages and recorded conversations, this defendant explicitly detailed her threats which included a planned shooting and bombing at Gateway Community College," said U.S. Attorney Fein in a press release Thursday. "Our office takes all such threats with utmost seriousness and will prosecute them to the fullest extent of federal law. I commend the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the New Haven and East Haven Police Departments for quickly identifying and neutralizing this threat."

Bowden is still in custody. She is due to be sentenced July 13 in Hartford.